Lama Thubten Yeshe

Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935 - 1984 CE) was born in a small mountain village called Tolung in Tibet. At six years old Lama Yeshe began his studies at Sera Monastic University in Tibet. At 25, he was forced to flee Tibet during Communist China's invasion. Leaving behind his family, friends and the other monks at Sera, he walked over the Himalayas to a refugee camp in Buxaduar in northeast India.

Lama Yeshe said, "Actually China was very kind - they forced me to meet the outside world and truly test the Dharma. I could have spent the rest of my life meditating, but that's not good enough. A monk's life should be used for others."

It was at Buxuduar, India that Lama Yeshe met his heart disciple, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In 1975 the lamas founded the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) that has since grown into a worldwide network of Buddhist retreat centres, hospices, clinics and related projects. It was Lama Yeshe who first conceived of the Projet Maitrya.

Lama Yeshe's heart stopped beating in Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, USA, on 3 March 1984. Within 11 months his reincarnation, Osel Hita Torres, was born in Spain. Lama Osel (which means "Clear Light") was recognised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Lama Yeshe. He currently studies at Sera Je Monastery in southern India.

Lama Yeshe said:

"When Lord Buddha spoke about suffering he wasn't referring simply to superficial problems like illness and injury, but to the fact that the dissatisfied nature of the mind itself is suffering. No matter how much of something you get it never satisfies your desire for better or more. This unceasing desire is suffering; its nature is emotional frustration.

"If you do not investigate your own mind with introspective knowledge-wisdom, you will never see what's in there. Without checking, no matter how much you talk about your mind and your emotions, you'll never really understand that your basic emotion is egocentricity and that this is what's making you restless".

Relic and Source

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has possessed this beautiful relic since Lama Yeshe's death in 1984.